[Football] Everton New Stadium

[The Colonel]

It's good that the women's team is getting its own stadium with a large capacity.

But surely Goodison is in such poor condition that it won't be long before it needs replacing again?

 

[rippleman]

A great initiative from Everton. Just a shame that they are going to beat us to it.

I would like to see more womens home games at the clubs main home ground. Last season, Arsenal played 8 of their WSL home games and all their WCL home legs at the Emirates (and they have reached the WCL final). If they can do it at Arsenal, what's our excuse?

 

[nicko31]

Goodison being kept for the ladies team

Goodison Park saved from bulldozers to become home of Everton Women

Exclusive: US owners confirm it will become the country’s first major stadium dedicated to a women’s team next season

www.theguardian.com

Can you imagine what amazing news that must be for an Everton fan? Far from an exact comparison, but imagine if the Goldstone was still there and you could still watch Albion women play.

Well done to the Everton board.

Demolition cost probably higher than land value, so keep it

 

[PeterT]

A great initiative from Everton. Just a shame that they are going to beat us to it.

I would like to see more womens home games at the clubs main home ground. Last season, Arsenal played 8 of their WSL home games and all their WCL home legs at the Emirates (and they have reached the WCL final). If they can do it at Arsenal, what's our excuse?

In my opinion, it’s not a given that just because you watch the men’s team you are automatically going to be interested in the women’s game.

It‘s a completely different product for one, and often the fact that I’ve seen one game at the weekend means that I have no interest in seeing another which, anyway, no prejudice intended, is not going to be at the same standard.

But it does have lots of things going for it, especially that the women’s game doesn’t have the angst or tension that the men’s game does and that in itself can be great for creating a new audience. I was in London on Saturday when 2 big women’s games were on and that lack of tension on the tube seemed to be great for families, kids and especially girls in their full kits who looked as though they were really into it.

To me the only way the women’s game is going to grow and build its own identity is to do something radical and for me that would be to play it as a summer game, like rugby league or T20 cricket. It wouldn’t be without issues, especially if other countries were still playing over the winter in terms of international competition etc, but it works in places like Sweden so could work with a bit of thought.

Imagine the women’s game on a summer evening with less of a clash with the men’s game, kids on school holiday, great weather, a chance to get your football fix out of season etc etc. The pitches could probably take it with year round use, might be an issue or might not, but personally I’d go to the Amex to watch it on a warm evening in July whereas you couldn’t pay me enough money to head up to Broadfield on a wet Saturday in February.

Just my twopence worth……

 

[Giraffe]

I've not read the whole thread but surely this is a just a FFP dodge? Wouldn't be surprised if the've sold the stadium to the women's team for £xmillion. then in a few years time they sell it for development. It's a win win isn't it?

Just don't believe they will get a better return long term from having it as a stadium for the women (plus other events presumably) rather than selling for development? Or is land price and development so low in Liverpool.

 

[PeterT]

I've not read the whole thread but surely this is a just a FFP dodge? Wouldn't be surprised if the've sold the stadium to the women's team for £xmillion. then in a few years time they sell it for development. It's a win win isn't it?

Just don't believe they will get a better return long term from having it as a stadium for the women (plus other events presumably) rather than selling for development? Or is land price and development so low in Liverpool.

You are probably right.

On the other hand stadia have been kept and/or downsized in other countries, like Malmo or the WACA in Perth. But the FFP dodge sounds a likely trigger here, and I doubt it would be very popular for housing in the same way that Highbury was for example.

 

[darkwolf666]

A great initiative from Everton. Just a shame that they are going to beat us to it.

I would like to see more womens home games at the clubs main home ground. Last season, Arsenal played 8 of their WSL home games and all their WCL home legs at the Emirates (and they have reached the WCL final). If they can do it at Arsenal, what's our excuse?

Planning requirements to get Falmer in the first place, possibly, I believe. I think there was a limit to the number of match days at the stadium, but stand to be corrected on that...

 

[drew]

A great initiative from Everton. Just a shame that they are going to beat us to it.

I would like to see more womens home games at the clubs main home ground. Last season, Arsenal played 8 of their WSL home games and all their WCL home legs at the Emirates (and they have reached the WCL final). If they can do it at Arsenal, what's our excuse?

I think the problems with playing at the Amex are that the stadium, when they have played, is not even half full. The cost of putting matches on is also prohibitive.

The women's game is still developing and that could be put at risk but trying to run before it can walk.

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

I've not read the whole thread but surely this is a just a FFP dodge? Wouldn't be surprised if the've sold the stadium to the women's team for £xmillion. then in a few years time they sell it for development. It's a win win isn't it?

Just don't believe they will get a better return long term from having it as a stadium for the women (plus other events presumably) rather than selling for development? Or is land price and development so low in Liverpool.

Next you'll be trying to tell us that you can sell the whole women's team to dodge FFP

 

[Withdean South Stand]

A great initiative from Everton. Just a shame that they are going to beat us to it.

I would like to see more womens home games at the clubs main home ground. Last season, Arsenal played 8 of their WSL home games and all their WCL home legs at the Emirates (and they have reached the WCL final). If they can do it at Arsenal, what's our excuse?

They aren't beating us to anything at all. This is good PR, but in truth it's just a financial decision. It doesn't really benefit the women's team to inherit the stadium. It's good for the fans to still be able to go to their old ground, great for the young generation of fans, etc. But this means they don't need to pay for demolition and don't need to find a new home for the women's team (for a few years).

What the Albion are doing is proposing building a stadium for the women's team, not building a new stadium for the men and considering the Amex to be for the women now. Everything about the new stadium built for the women's team will be fit for purpose, Goodison isn't fit for anything.

All of that being said, I never made it to Goodison for a men's match. It might be tempting to go for a women's match next season. If both clubs/FA are clever, it would be a great idea having Everton vs Brighton mens and womens matches in the same weekend. It would help the attendance for sure.

 

[World of Sport]

Wouldn't the Withdean be a good option for the ladies.
Good transport links, friendly neighbours when it comes to parking!

 

[Clive Walker]

They aren't beating us to anything at all. This is good PR, but in truth it's just a financial decision. It doesn't really benefit the women's team to inherit the stadium. It's good for the fans to still be able to go to their old ground, great for the young generation of fans, etc. But this means they don't need to pay for demolition and don't need to find a new home for the women's team (for a few years).

What the Albion are doing is proposing building a stadium for the women's team, not building a new stadium for the men and considering the Amex to be for the women now. Everything about the new stadium built for the women's team will be fit for purpose, Goodison isn't fit for anything.

All of that being said, I never made it to Goodison for a men's match. It might be tempting to go for a women's match next season. If both clubs/FA are clever, it would be a great idea having Everton vs Brighton mens and womens matches in the same weekend. It would help the attendance for sure.

agree, our womens stadium (when built) will be the envy of the women's game. It will be one of the final steps needed to complete project 'make falmer the sporting hub of the south'

 

[PeterT]

Wouldn't the Withdean be a good option for the ladies.
Good transport links, friendly neighbours when it comes to parking!

Don’t want to upset the neighbours though.

I’d suggest building it in Lewes, make all beer £2 a pint and see what happens …..

 

[Jackthelad]

In my opinion, it’s not a given that just because you watch the men’s team you are automatically going to be interested in the women’s game.

It‘s a completely different product for one, and often the fact that I’ve seen one game at the weekend means that I have no interest in seeing another which, anyway, no prejudice intended, is not going to be at the same standard.

But it does have lots of things going for it, especially that the women’s game doesn’t have the angst or tension that the men’s game does and that in itself can be great for creating a new audience. I was in London on Saturday when 2 big women’s games were on and that lack of tension on the tube seemed to be great for families, kids and especially girls in their full kits who looked as though they were really into it.

To me the only way the women’s game is going to grow and build its own identity is to do something radical and for me that would be to play it as a summer game, like rugby league or T20 cricket. It wouldn’t be without issues, especially if other countries were still playing over the winter in terms of international competition etc, but it works in places like Sweden so could work with a bit of thought.

Imagine the women’s game on a summer evening with less of a clash with the men’s game, kids on school holiday, great weather, a chance to get your football fix out of season etc etc. The pitches could probably take it with year round use, might be an issue or might not, but personally I’d go to the Amex to watch it on a warm evening in July whereas you couldn’t pay me enough money to head up to Broadfield on a wet Saturday in February.

Just my twopence worth……

I don’t see it happening but it’s a good idea.

 

[Sid and the Sharknados]

All of that being said, I never made it to Goodison for a men's match. It might be tempting to go for a women's match next season.

If you've read the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy books, you might remember a bit where somewhere in another dimension there's a higher form of being who play a variation of cricket which largely involves hitting each other with blunt objects, inside a completely empty arena surrounded by a high wall so that nobody can see. The idea being that the excitement of thinking you're missing some great sporting occasion will be much greater than actually seeing said sporting occasion.

Similarly, the appeal of the idea of going to Goodison is much greater than the reality of going to Goodison, and I highly recommend you don't bother.

But more succinctly: Goodison's a shithole, don't go there.

 

[PeterT]

If you've read the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy books, you might remember a bit where somewhere in another dimension there's a higher form of being who play a variation of cricket which largely involves hitting each other with blunt objects, inside a completely empty arena surrounded by a high wall so that nobody can see. The idea being that the excitement of thinking you're missing some great sporting occasion will be much greater than actually seeing said sporting occasion.

Similarly, the appeal of the idea of going to Goodison is much greater than the reality of going to Goodison, and I highly recommend you don't bother.

But more succinctly: Goodison's Liverpool’s a shithole, don't go there.

FTFY

 

[razer]

I've not read the whole thread but surely this is a just a FFP dodge? Wouldn't be surprised if the've sold the stadium to the women's team for £xmillion. then in a few years time they sell it for development. It's a win win isn't it?

Just don't believe they will get a better return long term from having it as a stadium for the women (plus other events presumably) rather than selling for development? Or is land price and development so low in Liverpool.

Walton, the home of Goodison park is in serious bandit territory and I doubt the land is very valuable,

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Wouldn't the Withdean be a good option for the ladies.
Good transport links, friendly neighbours when it comes to parking!

Fixed that for you

 

[Lady Whistledown]

I'm sceptical about this.

I reckon they haven't got an offer for the land that meets with their expectations- perhaps down to global financial uncertainty and there only being a finite number of student houses you can build in Liverpool-, therefore they've decided to sit on it for a while and mask their predicament with this grandiose announcement about "a dedicated stadium for the women".

The second a developer turns up with a more lucrative bid, I fancy it'll be "Ta-ra, ladies, off you pop to Walton, and we'll let you play the Merseyside derby at the new gaff if you go quietly".

 

[Easy 10]

Maintaining a rotting 40k stadium for the women's team looks like financial lunacy to me. But then what do I care.